Acham Old Girls' Magazine Winter 2015

Ascham Old Girls’ Magazine Winter 2015

The AOG Magazine is produced by Ascham’s Communications and Community Department

Editorial Team Skye Barry, Giselle Collins, Jackie Dalton, Victoria Harper and Lauren Sykes

Publisher Ascham School

Design Scribble & Think

Layout Jennie Barrett

Founded 1899 Generations of heart and soul

AOG Calendar of events 2

From our Patron 3

President’s Report 4

The Two of Us 5

A centenarian in the Union 7

Ascham History—then and now 8

Farewell Fiona fig trees 10

Farewell Ludo Onstein ... welcome to AOGU! 11

Grace Mortlock and the ‘starchitects’ 12

2015 Ascham Leadership Scholarship 13

The Ascham Duntrim Campaign Gala Launch Dinner 14

Ascham and World War I 16

Golf and Tennis 18

Class of 1954—60 year reunion 20







Class of 2010—five year reunion 27

Announcements 28

Miss Marie Daley: quis custodiet ipsos custodes? 35

Descendants of Old Girls on the 2015 School Roll 36

Career updates 42

Do you have any news? 44

Cover image—Ascham Leadership Scholarship 2014 recipient Grace Mortlock in Venice. More on page 12.

Class of 1979 reunion

Golf and Tennis Day

Sally Morrison (2000) has her hands full with classmates’ babies

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AOG Magazine Winter 2015

AOG Calendar of events 2015

Friday 21 August 11am–2.30pm HSC Art Show Lunch

Dining Room and Packer Foyer, Ascham

For more information please contact: [email protected] or telephone Skye Barry on (02) 8356 7065

Thursday 8 October 12.30pm Class of 1955—60 Year Reunion

Glenrock Drawing Room, Ascham

For more information please contact: Sally Cullen (Crossing) at [email protected] or telephone 0414 842 756

Friday 9 October 5.30pm Year 13 Drinks—One Year Reunion

Glenrock Drawing Room, Ascham


Saturday 10 October 7pm Class of 1995—20 Year Reunion

Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYC), Rushcutters Bay

For those interested, a tour will be held at Ascham beforehand, meeting under the Fig Tree at 5pm

For more information please contact: Allegra Spender at [email protected] or telephone 0420 400 984

Wednesday 21 October North/North West Old Girls’ Lunch—50th Anniversary

Venue and time in Tamworth to be advised


Saturday 24 October 10am–12noon Morning Tea for AOGs with children Under 7

Hillingdon Playground


Thursday 12 November 12noon QLD Old Girls Christmas Get Together

Moreton Club, 71 Moray Street, New Farm


The Ascham Duntrim Campaign Gala Launch Dinner

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The Ascham community is about building and nurturing relationships. A strong community is one where everyone feels safe, secure and cared about. There are many different relationships that build our community. There are the girls, parents, staff, former staff, the local community, our overseas exchange schools and the 5,000 Old Girls. All of these relationships are interwoven. For some girls the relationship with Ascham begins when they arrive in Prep. We take in 40 girls at this entry point and continue to build the Year group at further entry points at Kindergarten, Year 5 and Year 7.

We work very hard to alleviate any concerns the new girls might have and help them build relationships. They are allocated buddies when they arrive and these buddies show them around the School and where to sit with the other girls in their year group. In Fiona the girls are allocated a House, a POD and a chatterbox group. These groups allow the students to form vertical connections with girls from Years 3 to 6. The prefects in Fiona have special roles to help look after the new girls when they arrive.

In the Senior School the new girls are also allocated buddies and a House based on family connections as well as a sister group that is a subset of each House. Again all of these connections allow the girls to feel secure in their surroundings. The new parents are contacted by the Ascham Parents’ Association and welcomed into the Ascham community.

The Old Girls are an enormous part of our community. I am in the privileged position to be able to travel to boarding expos and country lunches and it is always a pleasure to meet the many Ascham Old Girls who live in these areas. In 2014 a number of reunions were held back at the School and a number have been held over lunch in the Glenrock

Drawing Room. From my office across the hallway I can hear the laughter and stories that go on late into the afternoon. I love hearing stories that begin with ‘Back when we were at Ascham ...’ or ‘Do you remember when Mrs ...’ The relationships that develop at School stay with you forever and help build strength in our community.

In the last year we have lost several of our Old Girls at ages that were far too young. These losses have been extremely sad, particularly the incredibly tragic circumstances surrounding the death of Katrina Dawson, but the strength of the Old Girls community has been a wonderful constant in these trying times.

Your heartfelt responses to my letter to you all about the Fiona fig trees (see page 10) have reinforced my own observation that the Ascham community is warm, extensive and permanent.

The Building Our Girls’ Future Campaign is well underway through both fundraising and building. The Past Students’ Committee chaired by Sally Psaltis (Heath 1981) has been instrumental in spreading the information about this exciting project. Duntrim House is being refurbished to house 61 boarders, and the nine new Science laboratories will be completed in early 2016.

The School continues to evolve and change, but the Dalton Plan is still the way the girls learn and it prepares them for life at university and beyond.

As an Old Girl you are always welcome to come back through the gates and say hello.

Andrew Powell Head of School

From our Patron—Andrew Powell

Andrew Powell awarding a trophy to Sally Kimpton (Windeyer 1959) at the AOG Golf and Tennis Day

Skye Barry (Edwards 1994) Jenny Ridhalgh (Harvey 1981) and Andrew Powell

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Our Newsletter, now called Magazine due to its quality and content which is far beyond that of a Newsletter, is receiving fantastic reviews. Some have mentioned how important this Magazine is to parents choosing a school to educate their daughters. On reading the Magazine, the daughters of Old Girls will appreciate the

long-term positive effect that Ascham has on an AOG’s life.

The AOGU has held many events throughout the year including our Biggest Card Day, Business Breakfast, the North/North West Lunch in Moree, the Golf and Tennis Day and our annual Art Lunch.

If you are working normal business hours and have difficulty attending some of the events we may have a solution. Amanda Pfeffer (Stern 2008) came up with the great idea of ‘The Midweek Catch-up’. It will be an informal event where you can meet with your old school buddies at a local venue. Amanda will organise this through the AOG Facebook Group.

Of course in between all the events the AOG memorabilia is sold at AOG, Ascham Parents’ Association and School events and also in the Ascham Uniform Shop. Volunteers on the Committee manage stalls and the shop along with our Liaison Officer Skye Barry (Edwards 1984). Cathy Poulden (Lawrie 1987) and Caroline Stephens (Atwill 1976) have worked hard in their role of managing memorabilia.

We try to work well with Ascham School, the Foundation and the Ascham Parents’ Association as we have a common goal of supporting the School, current students and Old Girls.

Part of this support included going to Scone to help with the School’s efforts to increase boarding numbers. I was kindly invited by Mr Powell to attend a luncheon in Scone at Kirsty and Arthur Mitchell’s home. It was such an enjoyable day and I am sure it will have positive effects.

President’s Report

During my first year as President there have been many positive developments within the AOGU.

Hattie Millett (Street 1980) worked hard to have a headstone produced for Marie Daley, a much-loved Ancient History teacher of Ascham. There has been much consultation with the family and the AOGU are happy to organise this.

I was also invited to a meeting of the Presidents from several other schools. The idea was to learn from each other to improve and share knowledge. Wenona, PLC Pymble, Abbotsleigh and Queenwood were all represented. The meeting was so successful that we are planning to meet more often.

One of my main aims when I became President was to make being on the Committee a great pleasure and continue to make the AOGU a relevant and easy-to-tap-into resource. ‘Stability’, ‘availability’ and ‘interesting’ are key words to describe the AOGU. To help in achieving this we have added some new protocols. To improve ease of taking on a new role on the Committee we plan on having descriptions of the role in writing. To help those managing an event we have introduced templates (based on the School’s work sheets) so we have a format to follow year after year.

We are getting a better understanding of the financial side of the AOGU. Mandy Urquhart (1980) has worked very hard in her role as Treasurer. I would like to thank Mandy for being such a great support and friend. Even though she was not keen to be Treasurer she knew we needed her and we are truly grateful.

I would also like to take this time to thank the Office Bearers including Vice Presidents Caroline Stephens (Atwill 1976) and Hannah Brown (2002) and all Committee Members. Throughout the past year I have made many new friendships and I would like to thank our members for your support of the AOGU.

Vi et Animo

Jennifer Ridhalgh (Harvey 1981)

Editor’s noteIt was an obvious decision this edition to focus on History at Ascham: Australia’s sober 100-year commemoration of Gallipoli is brought home by our archivist’s fascinating account of Ascham during WWI; the Head of History takes us through how History as a subject has evolved; and the ‘Two of Us’ focuses on two History teachers who have worked together joyfully and successfully at Ascham for 30 years.

It is also a time of empathy and loss, which is poignant in this edition’s obituaries of some notable Ascham Old Girls. I wish you an interesting and—at times—an emotional read.

Giselle Collins (Jollie 1986) Honorary Editor, Ascham Old Girls’ Committee

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The Two of Us—Jill Lumsdaine and Anne McCallum

What makes Jill Lumsdaine and Anne McCallum unique is that for 30 consecutive years together they have developed History into one of Ascham’s consistently high performing HSC subjects, all within the ample latitude that the Dalton Plan gives a teacher as a method of teaching.

I remember both teachers from when I was a student at Ascham in the 1980s. And yes even then they seemed part of the furniture (in the nicest possible way!) What I didn’t realise at the time was the deep level of respect they have for one another, which would deepen even further over 30 years teaching together at Ascham in the same department. What is also apparent is their open admiration and fervour for the application of the Dalton Plan.

Anne grew up surrounded by advocates of Ascham—her mother, aunt and cousins attended Ascham in the 1920s, 1930s and 1960s. Her grandfather, Percival Halse Rogers, was the first Chairman of the Council at Ascham. Anne would have attended Ascham had her family not moved to the North Shore where she attended Abbotsleigh.

Almost 40 years ago Jill jumped at the opportunity when a maternity leave position became available at Ascham, after studying the Dalton Plan in her DipEd and Masters of Education at the University of NSW. For Jill the Dalton Plan’s concept of a contract made with the student to encourage ownership of learning appealed immensely.

Anne, like Jill, believed deeply that this system of learning suited her. Why? Anne explained that being a teacher at Ascham is to be given the endorsement that learning is not to be compromised. In fact, Rowena Danziger set the tone that lessons and studies were of the utmost importance—if a commitment was given to a teacher that you would have the students for three sessions a week, then that would happen regardless of other non-curricular activities. This changed to a degree under Louise Robert-Smith, to emphasise ‘the whole girl’ and the personal responsibility of each student to contribute in some way towards improving their community.

This cultural change at Ascham coincided with the trend over several decades for the History curriculum to focus more on social history and away from political history, driven in part by the popularity of feminist studies and post-colonial studies. Now there appears to be a slight swing back, apparently due to student interest in the universities and in the politics behind the Arab Spring, Islamic State and other such groups and events.

A simpler explanation of this change in focus is that the movement towards a national curriculum has inevitably caused History to be influenced by the other states and their focus on HSIE (Human Society and Its Environment) within the learning of History. What does this mean? The

chronology of facts and the stories that bring History alive are less emphasised. Instead, the notions of empathetic understanding and conceptual learning associated with each particular period of History have greater weighting. Empathy as an emotion, in Anne and Jill’s opinion, develops in later adolescence so this interpretation of History has its place, but probably not so much in the earlier years of learning.

Both Jill and Anne are qualified to make such opinions. Anne was Head of Dalton at Ascham and Jill was the Head of the History Department from 1981 to 2013. They’ve also both served on the Syllabus Committees of the NSW Board of Studies.

Anne McCallum and Jill Lumsdaine

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Another positive development in the teaching of History is the way it now overlaps and complements other subjects in order to provide a more complete and interesting understanding of historical times. For instance, when studying the Neolithic revolution, a further understanding of the river systems is helpful to fully grasp the reasons for the cultural developments that occurred at the time.

Jill, who began her career at Ascham teaching both History and Economics (and who now teaches Geography as well as History), is more than able to have the cross-disciplinary discussion. Anne’s flexibility in teaching is that she is proficient to teach both Modern and Ancient History.

It was fascinating to hear Anne’s and Jill’s view on the generational shift in student (and parental) behaviour. When they both started teaching, there was a list on the door of the test results: pass or (in red) fail. The responsibility to study and to use the resources that Ascham provided was squarely put on the shoulders of students. The softening of Ascham was perhaps necessary, but should not in their opinion compromise this sense of responsibility and the self-discipline that is intrinsically associated with success

at Ascham, and in life thereafter. I found it intriguing that when Anne asked one of her classes, ‘Who believes they are special?’ most students put up their hand. I am sure my children would have done so as well. Is this self-belief a positive mindset? The natural question then to pose is, ‘In what way are you special?’ Anne could not find many students who were able to articulate their reasoning for having this view. Should we aspire to be special rather than think it is a due that our parents have given us? Jill’s and Anne’s view is it is something to work towards, something to earn the right to be, and that then provides one with a strong dose of self-confidence.

Anne’s view of Ascham is that it is unique in that academic success is not automatically equated with nerdiness. Students respect the culture that advanced literacy and the rigour of academic success are necessary for success in life. Jill’s and Anne’s view on teaching is that it should provide a comfortable environment for students, away from the competitiveness of the rest of their lives, to make mistakes openly and to signal when they require further clarification on issues and concepts.

So the question you may be asking is why have Jill and Anne been at Ascham so long?

Jill’s answer was that she loves teaching, especially in studies when students are given the opportunity to critically discuss with their teachers, one-on-one. Every lesson and study period is therefore different. Anne’s view is similar. They both mention each other and the way the History Department, led now by Jessica Davis, has evolved to be such a supportive and enjoyable department in which to work. This type of trusting culture allows the critical debate to be enhanced by the energy of people who enjoy being together. As a result, History continues to be a relevant and worthwhile contribution to students’ HSC results, as well as providing a basis for their understanding of values and the contestability of facts that enriches our thinking.

That to me sums up their huge contribution, as well as the love of learning that go hand-in-hand with their teaching. We are truly lucky that they are still part of the fabric of Ascham.

Giselle Collins (Jollie 1986)

Anne and Jill with students in the 1990s

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Val celebrated with a luncheon for 100 people at Graze Restaurant, Willow Tree, NSW. Family and friends came from near and far, and the joy and happiness apparent is testament to how much Val is loved, and held dear, by so many.

Val, who was at Ascham for six years, has a long association with the School. Her two older sisters, Vera Austin Jones (Burcham 1915) and Beryl Hollingworth (Burcham 1917) attended in the early days, and Vera’s great granddaughter Anna Harrison is a present day pupil. Val’s three daughters also attended—Sue Blomfield (Gowing 1962) and twins Sally Daniel (Gowing 1967) and Sandy Price (Gowing 1967). Val still has much pleasure in attending Old Girl reunions.

Val was born in Dubbo and lived at ‘Jedburgh’, Warren, NSW. She used to ride 14 miles to school everyday. This all became a bit much and at age eight she went to Blue Mountains Church of England Grammar School, and then, at age 11, became a boarder at Ascham. She has many stories to tell of those earlier boarding years, and it would appear she did spend some time standing in the corridor outside Miss Bailey’s door, as a result of too much chatter! After leaving school, she attended Miss Hales’ Business College, then worked as a secretary in various businesses, and as a dental assistant in Macquarie Street.

She later met and married Bill Gowing and they settled at ‘St Elmo’, west of Willow Tree. This happened to be next door to Joan Moses (White 1931), a lifelong Ascham friend. With the onset of war Bill joined the RAAF, and Val worked on the Census during his four-and-a-half-year posting overseas (he received his call-up on their way to their honeymoon!). The war ended, and the first set of twins arrived (Bill and Sue).

The family then moved to their property ‘Kinora’, near Quirindi and a few years later two more twins arrived, Sally and Sandy. Saturdays found them at the Quirindi Tennis Club, and later, the Quirindi Golf Club. The family then moved into Quirindi where Val still lives. Val is in good health—and still has her driver’s licence!

She has experienced such huge changes, in all aspects of life: technology, communication, transport, attitudes, the Great Depression and war, country life and city life. What remains unchanged are Val’s strong core values, and her most endearing quality, which is that she always sees the good in people. What she really values most are family and friends, largely as a direct result of her years spent at Ascham.

We are very fortunate to have her still in our lives, and look forward to many more years in her engaging company.

Sally Daniel (Gowing 1967)

Val cuts the cake with Sally Daniel (Gowing 1967), Bill Gowing, Sandy Price (Gowing 1967), Susie Blomfield (Gowing 1962)

A centenarian in the Union

Valerie Gowing (Burcham 1930) reached her 100th birthday on 27 October 2014.

Valerie Gowing (Burcham 1930)

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The close working relationship with my students is something that has become integral to the way I engage them in the syllabus content and I feel very lucky to teach in a school that provides this connection. Teachers at Ascham know their students and how they learn.

In 2014 I took over as Head of History and I am very aware of the great legacy that I have inherited. At the end of 2013, Jill Lumsdaine stepped down after 32 years as the Head of History. During that time Jill led the Department through many of the key changes that had an impact upon the study of History at Ascham, including the introduction of the first computers in the classroom and the implementation of the current Junior and Senior syllabuses. Her leadership made the History Department what it is today.

I feel rather unqualified to talk about the history of the History Department when three members of the Department have a combined 97 years teaching history at Ascham between them. Patrick Sheehy, Anne McCallum and Jill Lumsdaine are very much part of the fabric of History at Ascham. I asked Jill to help me reflect on some of the key changes that have occurred in the teaching of History at Ascham …

Then: Until 2010, History and Classics were separate Departments at Ascham and the History Department taught all the junior classes and Modern History in the senior years. When Jill started at Ascham the History classrooms were on the top floor of the Margaret Bailey Building and in room W1. By the mid-1980s the History department occupied the top level of the Whitehead Building and this is where it remained for over 25 years. I fondly remember the impromptu History Department meetings that would take place on the balcony outside our classrooms; everything from the content of a Year 7 test to reflections on Year 12 assessment marks took place leaning over the balustrade with a cup of tea in hand.

History assignments were traditionally on paper and much shorter than they are today. They provided only a basic outline of the content to be studied. A textbook and an extensive class reference library were the main references for content and, with fewer requirements stipulated by the NSW Board of Studies, assignments provided very little reference to skills and differentiated tasks. This is not to say that these things were not happening, it was just a much less formalised process.

Class sizes tended to be smaller than today and this allowed Mrs Danziger to teach the top classes in Years 11 and 12 History in her office. She had a particular knowledge of American history and she enjoyed working with the Senior students.

Dalton Extras were seen as detentions and something to be avoided. Many Old Girls tell stories of doing anything they could to avoid the dreaded Dalton detention.

There has been a strong tradition of encouraging a sense of wonder and exploration in students of History at Ascham. In the past, the History Department has organised both local and international excursions, including to Japan, Russia and Italy. These experiences enriched the learning taking place in the classroom.

Now: History remains a popular subject at Ascham, both at a Junior and Senior level. Across the State, Ancient and Modern History continue to be among the most popular subjects studied for the HSC. Interestingly, Modern History has always been the more popular of the two disciplines at Ascham, while State-wide it is Ancient History. Our HSC results in both Modern and Ancient History have been consistently strong over the years, a testament to the quality of the teaching and learning happening in Ascham classrooms.

Ascham History—then and now

When I joined the Ascham History Department in 2009 the Dalton Plan at Ascham changed the way I taught History.

Technology used for learning

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The History Department has been a proud leader in the integration of information technology in the classroom. Ours was the first Department to have computers to word process our own assignments, and then to prepare online History assignments replacing paper assignments, initially as simple PDF documents with live links, then SharePoint, WordPress and now Canvas. The constantly changing nature of History means that online platforms allow us to provide access to the most current resources and historiography. Classroom resources such as iPads and SMART boards help teachers to make the content interactive and engaging for a range of learning abilities.

With fewer case studies than in the past, the current Senior syllabuses allow for a more sophisticated and in-depth analysis of the content. The case studies have been selected to provide students with access to the most relevant and engaging elements of the Modern and Ancient syllabuses. Our History Extension course remains popular amongst students who want the challenge of an individual research project.

Over the past two years the Department has implemented the new NSW History Syllabuses in Years 7-10 as part of the introduction of the Australian Curriculum. These new syllabuses have moved away from the traditional, Eurocentric courses and there is a greater focus on the Asian region. The multi-discipline elective courses in Years 8, 9 and 10 provide students with the opportunity to study content from ancient, medieval and modern topics, and allow teachers to teach subjects in which they have a specialisation.

The emphasis on inquiry-based learning in the courses currently offered at Ascham encourages students to see history as more than a list of facts and dates. The study

of history provides students with the skills essential to becoming informed citizens of the modern world. Curiosity is encouraged. Students ask questions, develop problem solving and critical thinking skills, and make informed arguments. It is this focus on critical engagement in the content that makes the Study the most important aspect of learning History at Ascham. It is in the Study that discussion, debate and analysis really take place, and the teachers are able to guide students to come to their own conclusions. Today, Dalton Extras are not seen as punitive and many senior girls will put themselves on an Extra in order to spend additional time with their teachers—evidence that the students recognise the enormous value of the access they have to their History teachers.

Students are still encouraged to engage with history outside of the classroom. Excursions to museums, lecture series and guest speakers are facilitated and we are hoping to provide an opportunity for an Ancient History/Latin excursion to Europe in the near future.

This year the History Department moved from the Whitehead Building to make way for the new Duntrim development. We are currently spread between the Margaret Bailey Building, Whitehead and Glenrock, but we are looking forward to a more permanent home again when the building development is complete.

The History Department remains a relevant and dynamic department of passionate History teachers. The combination of experience and knowledge amongst the current History staff ensures that the strong tradition of History at Ascham will continue into the future.

Jessica Davis Head of History

The History Deaprtment then—Katherine Müller, Patrick Sheehy, Jill Lumsdaine, Anne McCallum

The History Department now—Clare Dickinson, Jessica Davis, Patrick Sheehy (back), Helen Dziedzic, Jill Lumsdaine, Anne McCallum (front)

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The fig trees had become dangerous and large limbs had fallen onto New South Head Road and Ocean Avenue, as well as into the playground. The risk of injuring someone passing (or playing) underneath was too great for Ascham to leave the trees standing.

Many Old Girls have shared their memories of the trees:

I have such fond memories of playing with friends in the crevices created by the roots—perfect for hide ‘n seek, ‘nature clubs’ and bar for playing tip!

My dear mother and aunt remember there being air raid shelters under two of the figs.

I have very happy memories of cubby houses under the trees.

I have very fond memories of climbing so as to wave to my mother at the Edgecliff bus stop on her return to our home in Macquarie Street, Sydney some 60 years ago after she left me at school.

In 1973 we squished up against the old picket fence that used to be there, under the trees, in our hats and gloves as the Queen drove past in a convoy of beautiful black limousines. I remember my dressed-up mother waving daintily from the steps of the Post Office across the road. Some of us had little Australian flags … we waved like crazy as the godlike lady, whose face we knew from the back of our precious pocket money, swivelled her hand in the air at us … the ‘Big Trees’ held so many memories for me that when I drove down Ocean Avenue a few days ago I burst into tears when I saw they were gone.

In 2012 I dedicated an old Moreton Bay Fig in Centennial Park to my late mother and have a great fondness for them, borne of my Ascham years.

I spent many hours under those trees and was so sorry to see them disappear … the thought of anyone being hurt by a dropped limb is unthinkable and your hard decision to remove the trees was the only possible solution.

With thanks to Annabel Mendelson (Vallance 1992), Sandy Murphy (Carr 1971), Susan Diver (1962), Mabs Carruthers (Maitland 1961), Kimberly Freed (Hodge 1981), Susan Wyndham (1975) and Sancha Dickson (Bovill 1963).

Victoria Harper Communications and Events Manager

Farewell Fiona fig trees

For safety reasons, Ascham made the sad decision recently to remove two fig trees from the Fiona playground, which held fond memories for many Old Girls.

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Mr Onstein joined the School in 1991 in a part-time capacity. He taught English as a Second Language (ESL), helped in the French Department and worked as an assistant in the Library. He also became the Administrative Assistant to the Head of English in that year. His role at the School continued to evolve and he started working with Robert Marshall on the timetable around 1995, becoming Assistant Director of Studies in 1996 and Director of Studies in 1998. In 2000 he was appointed to the Senior Executive and he was appointed Deputy Head in 2012, remaining in this position until his retirement in 2014.

While Mr Onstein’s seniority rose he continued to teach at least two French classes until 2014 and from 1992-2013 he taught at least one Year 7 French class. He went twice on Outward Bound, in 1992 and 1997—‘they were the tough years’, he says. He also went on Music Camp and he has been mentioned in nearly every reunion report in the Old Girls Newsletter—he attends so many of them because Old Girls always invite him!

It is not just the many important roles that Mr Onstein has held at the School that Old Girls remember him for, but his loyalty and willingness to do whatever was needed to ensure

that Ascham remained true to Ascham. He has upheld the values of the School at all times and all decisions made by him were made with the best interests of the School and the girls—including staying on an extra year from 2013-2014 to support the School at a time of change.

Mr Onstein has always been a strong advocate of the Dalton Plan, how it teaches you to speak to adults, to ask questions, to negotiate the card, how it can give you a ‘sense of purpose’. He felt that Ascham girls get things done, and Mr Onstein certainly got things done while he was at Ascham.

In November the School held a wonderful farewell for Mr Onstein in the Packer Theatre, with speeches and performances (voice and musical), attended by past and present students and parents, and past Headmistresses. In December, Mr Onstein spoke at Prizegiving where he talked about his gratitude for having been part of Ascham for 24 years. He embraced the continuity and traditions of Ascham, the family feeling, the ‘belonging’ and the sense of loyalty.

Mr Onstein remains in contact with many Old Girls and it is clear that he is held in high esteem by peers, the students, parents and others in the Ascham community. His dedication and loyalty to Ascham, Dalton and our community cannot be questioned and with this in mind the Ascham Old Girls’ Union Committee voted in February for him to be named an Honorary Ascham Old Girl. It is the Committee’s way of giving Mr Onstein a unique and important recognition of his commitment and contribution to our School. Congratulations Ludo and welcome!

Skye Barry (Edwards 1984)

Farewell Ludo Onstein … welcome to AOGU!

Much-loved teacher Ludo Onstein has said his final goodbye to Ascham after 24 years.

Mr Onstein in the 1990s

Mr Onstein, 2014

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After having already walked to the wrong end of Venice for the press cocktail event I was now rushing to try and get a couple of words with Koolhaas, the sole curator of the 2014 Venice Architecture Biennale. I accosted him on the stairs and we had a brief encounter. I doubt he will remember this meeting, but as a young architect travelling to Venice and rubbing shoulders with the world’s starchitects, I will never forget this moment.

So begins Grace Mortlock (2005), in her report to her sponsor, Ascham, on what she achieved thanks to receiving the Ascham Leadership Scholarship for 2014. Old Girls will remember the profile of Grace in the Ascham Old Girls’ Newsletter Winter 2014 edition on page 11. The Scholarship paid for her trip to Venice for the 2014 Architecture Biennale after she had been offered the prestigious position of Australian contributor for ArchitectureAU.com, reporting on the goings on at the Biennale.

‘My primary task for the Ascham Leadership Scholarship was to review the Biennale for ArchitectureAU, the widest read architectural website in Australia,’ Grace told the AOG Magazine.

‘This meant quickly turning around three articles within the space of three days, giving the Australian architectural community an immediate taste of the international exhibition. Being on the ground in Venice meant I was able to network with international architects.

‘Without the Ascham Leadership Scholarship I would not have been able to meet the director of the Biennale, Paolo Barrata; talk with the architecture curators of MoMA, New York and the V&A, London; meet Sir Peter Cook (one of the coolest architects from the 60s, we share a love of quirky sunglasses!) and of course chat with Rem Koolhaas.’

Grace made other connections too, which she maintains now that she is back in Australia.

‘Architecture is a global profession, with Australian architects working all around the world,’ she said.

‘The Biennale offers an opportunity to meet with architects from different countries and share our ideas. It is one of the most important events for the architectural profession, bringing together architects from all over to exhibit their ideas, meet, discuss and of course drink spritz!’

At the Biennale, Grace and her colleague David Neustein were invited to participate in the debate event series, ‘Towards a New Avant Garde.’ The discussion explored the motivations of a new generation of Italian architects.

‘We were the only non-Italians invited as part of the discussion—both having lived and worked in Italy we offered an international perspective to the event,’ Grace said.

‘David and I were also invited to present our work at the firm Other Architects at Fabrica in Treviso, 45 minutes out of Venice. Fabrica is a creative workshop and education institution run by the Benetton Group. Being able to share our work on an international platform is incredibly important.

‘The Ascham Leadership Scholarship was a truly generous gift, allowing me to develop as an architect and work within an international architectural community.’

Victoria Harper Communications and Events Manager

Grace Mortlock and the ‘starchitects’

As I was walking up the steps of the Palazzo Ca’Giustinian in Piazza San Marco, Venice, Italy, one of the most famous architects in the world, Rem Koolhaas, walked down the steps towards me.

Grace Mortlock and David Neustein of otherothers have just been named as Australia’s representatives

at the 2015 Chicago Architecture Biennial, North America’s largest international survey of

contemporary architecture.

Practices from more than 25 countries will be represented there in October 2015.

Architects Grace Mortlock and Sir Peter Cook at the Venice Biennale

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2015 Ascham Leadership Scholarship recipient: Verity Smith

Verity Smith of the Class of 2007 is a graduate of Arts/Law at the University of NSW. She majored in Hispanic Studies in Arts and pursued social justice electives in Law. She has a particular interest in the criminal justice system and its interaction with vulnerable and disadvantaged people. This led her to complete her practical legal training at the Public Interest Advocacy Centre. Since being admitted to the Supreme Court of NSW as a solicitor, she has worked at Legal Aid NSW and is now a criminal lawyer for the Aboriginal Legal Service NSW/ACT’s Western Region, based in Wagga Wagga.

Verity will use the Scholarship to undertake an internship at Reprieve, an international organisation that works against the death penalty. She will be assisting a team of lawyers in providing legal representation and humanitarian assistance to people on death row. She will be based in an office in Louisiana, Texas, North Carolina or Florida. She is particularly glad to be able to undertake this internship thanks to the Ascham Leadership Scholarship, as this fundamental human rights work and experience of the criminal justice system at its most unrelenting will give her valuable background for her career and future studies in this field.

Verity Smith on her admission as a lawyer at the Supreme Court of NSW with her father James Smith and mother Leone Burridge

Applications are now open for the 2016 Ascham Leadership Scholarship

This annual Scholarship is open to all Ascham Old Girls between the ages of 20 and 30 to enable the recipient to undertake research in alignment with her professional degree or

humanitarian aid work outside Australia.

Earlier winners from 2010 to 2014, all featured in recent issues of the AOG Magazine and profiled on Ascham’s website, include Lara Franzen, Sephora Sultana, Georgia Driels,

Sarah Cohn and Grace Mortlock.

For more information please contact [email protected]

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It was great to see so many Old Girls attend, as well as being involved by way of entertaining us on the night. It was a wonderful way of supporting the Ascham community and a fun night was had by all.

Photos provided courtesy of Magdalena Photography – www.magdalenaphotography.com.au/duntrim15

The Ascham Duntrim Campaign Gala Launch Dinner

The Gala Launch Dinner on Saturday 16 May was the official launch of Building Our Girls’ Future – The Ascham Duntrim Campaign.

Caroline Stephens (Atwill 1976), Nicola Jackman (Allen 1981), Hattie Millett (Street 1980), Fiona Playfair (Atwill 1980), Jill Macintyre (Gavin 1984), Skye Barry (Edwards 1994), Lucinda Ipkendanz (1981) and Katie Jacques (Holmes 1987)

Old Girls from the Class of 2009: Emma Milson, Arabella Mason, Juliet Burridge, Harriet Wadsworth, Sarah Pinczewski and Nicola Michael

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Kamilla Johns (1994), Ellie Aitken (Field 1997) and Ali Crawford (Higgs 1991)

Skye Mackay (Little 1994), Penelope Holt and Jamie Mackay

Caroline Isles (Allsopp 1988) and Sarah Lefebvre (Dickson 1989) Justine and Andrew Sinclair and Kiera Grant (1989)

Julia Booth (1988), Sally Psaltis (Heath 1981), Sandra Anderson (1958), Shaughan Cooke (Littlewood 1982)

Richard Caldwell, Melissa Halliday (1979), David Haslingden

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Ascham girls are enjoying an historical exhibit and slideshow of photographs and documents from the archives displayed in the Margaret Bailey Library.

The photographs of the School during the WWI era suggest that although these years were subdued, there was nonetheless plenty of activity in terms of sport, theatrical performances, excursions and schoolwork, with the introduction of the Intermediate Certificate in 1917. The outbreak of war coincided with Miss Bailey and Miss Gilman Jones buying the School from the Carters. By the start of 1916, Miss Jones had left to take up a position as Headmistress of Melbourne Girls Grammar School, leaving Miss Bailey to run the School by herself. Consequently, it is Mr Carter who is vocal in Charivari during the early war years. His essay ‘History Repeats Itself’ appears in the September 1914 issue, and two letters to the girls appear in subsequent issues. In the second letter, published in September 1915, he writes:

Every day the papers are filled with stories—real stories of the brave things your brothers or cousins or friends are doing. Well, girls, what are you going to do about it? By the time this war is over, there will be no man, woman or child in the Empire who won’t be called upon to show his or her worth.

Apart from Mr Carter’s contributions, other early reports in Charivari, at least during the first year of the war, appear to be almost ambivalent. The opening line in an early article entitled ‘War Notes’ in September 1914 begins,

If the war does nothing else, at least it is teaching us some geography.

Ascham and World War I

As Australia commemorates a centenary since the landing at Gallipoli on 25 April, 1915, Ascham students are looking back at their School’s history during World War I (WWI).

While on the one hand the girls were fundraising for the Red Cross and Belgian Refugees, they also made a day of it by seeing off the troops to New Guinea from the appropriately named Man o’ War steps. It is described in Charivari as being carnival-like in atmosphere with a band playing, and the soldiers singing cheerfully as they embarked on their troop ship, some of them with their dogs tucked under their arms. A few months later, a visit to the 12th Light Horse camp at Liverpool seems to almost resemble a day at the races. Under the Old Girls’ Notes, engagements are proudly announced to army officers, while the letters of Ursula Carter, daughter of the former Head of School and one of the first Old Girls to be deployed overseas, give only a hint of the horror to come. In a letter written in February 1915 from Heliopolis Hospital, and published in the June 1915 issue of Charivari, Ursula writes:

I am in charge of [number] 35 Tent with 14 beds in it. There are not many very sick men in our hospital tent camp, as they are all sent to Mena House which is much better equipped and more convenient … Some of the field ambulances have been sent to Ismailia … we have not heard much from them yet, but crowds of wounded Turks are being brought into Cairo. Some of our own wounded men have come, too—English and NZ—none of the Australians yet.

As her letters continue into early April 1915, she talks about the excitement of witnessing the new Sultan and his entourage drive past, or the humour of seeing the tall Australian troops charging up and down the main streets on donkeys, their feet dragging along the ground. By 4 April 1915, she describes the empty camp as the first and second

Ascham girls under the Fig Tree at the outbreak of War, 1914 Ascham Boarders 1915, Laura Crane collection

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brigades leave along with the Engineer and Army Service Corps and some of the field ambulances, with only the Artillery and Light Horse waiting to go. Her anxiety is thinly disguised as she adds:

None of them were allowed to take any luggage, so it looks like business. They were off to Alexandria, and probably the Dardanelles … the men were all very lively and glad to be leaving at last.

Within a month, her letters tell a very different story. In May, she writes:

Things are a good deal busier with us now … as we have nearly 500 wounded here, as well as our other patients. They all arrived yesterday and the day before by hospital trains from Alexandria … they all look very disreputable, too, as they had to leave their kit bags behind and have been living out of one set of clothes since they left here. They are all wearing the Red Cross shirts and pyjamas etc. that you have sent. We would be quite lost without all our Red Cross stuff from home.’

By June, she talks of those men who are not necessarily wounded but suffering from shell shock and shattered nerves. She explains that these soldiers are looked down on by the other men and nicknamed the ‘cold foot brigade’ adding:

Some of our men are such boys, too—a lot only about 17. It is terribly sad to see the way our men have been knocked about; so many of them have come straight from the front with their wounds quite untouched since the time they left Gallipoli.

Corporal Grimston was one of the first guest speakers in 1915 to come and talk to the girls at the School about his experiences in the Dardanelles, which clearly made an

impact on them. Nonetheless, around the same time, the girls expressed surprise at Miss [Gilman] Jones introducing compulsory Knitting and Sewing, complete with examinations and new prizes in both subjects, a clever move which increased the volume of homemade clothing and knitted garments the girls sent overseas. Meanwhile, in 1917, the Marie Wallis Prize for German, the School’s oldest prize and named for Ascham’s founder was quietly changed and instead awarded to the girl with the highest number of marks in her examination papers.

Throughout the war years, the girls endeavoured to attend talks and keep informed about the war, and to express their thoughts and feelings through verse and prose. In these published pieces of writing, there are attempts at humour as well. One account entitled ‘An Episode at the Pictures’ published in 1916, is told from the point of view of a small boy, watching news footage of the war and continually asking his mother questions, to both the annoyance and amusement of the rest of the audience. Elsewhere, the boarders’ night time activities took on military overtones, as the main entertainment in the dorms seemed to revolve around war games and trench warfare, including one called ‘The Order of the Bath’ involving the boarders from one dorm attempting to take occupation of the bathroom for the duration of the evening.

As the war progressed, several Old Girls left for overseas to nurse, drive ambulances and work for organisations such as the Red Cross. Probably none were quite as illustrious as Rania McPhillamy who, along with Alice Chisholm, opened the Soldiers’ Rest in Kantara, Egypt, on the Suez Canal on Australia Day, 1917, with ‘one little marquee, one small spirit stove, one mule, one water-cart, one big table’. Before the year was out, over 150,000 men had passed through the camp with up to 4,000 men being fed in a day. By this time the camp had expanded to include tents, a hut, huge ovens, an ice chest and about 25 big tables, and the staff had increased from two to 30.

With the Armistice in 1918 came the publishing of poems in Charivari commemorating peace. Meanwhile, Rania McPhillamy and Alice Chisholm’s work continued as they had opened a branch in Palestine earlier in 1918, with General Allenby’s approval and support. After the Armistice, Rania moved her canteen to the ANZAC Mounted Division camped in the desert at Rafa, where she also ran open air picture shows, finally leaving only after the Egyptian rebellion.

According to an extract in The Sun, reprinted in Charivari, 1919, Rania and Alice Chisholm donated £2,000 to the EEF Funds and £1,000 to the AIF Regimental Funds for the benefit of the soldiers. Rania was awarded an MBE in 1918 and an OBE in 1920.

Marguerite Gillezeau Archivist

Rania McPhillamy (right) with Nancy Smith and Kathleen Glasson at the boarders’ picnic in Stanwell Park, 11 November, 1905

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A week before the Golf and Tennis Day, the CIS Rowing Regatta was held and the School received a Gold Medal for the Individual Scull. Days after this, Ascham won the CIS Swimming Second Division, came second in the Diving and won the Ascham Sailing Regatta, where there were 88 races. From these events some of our students will go on to compete at State and National levels. It was also the week of the Tildesley Shield Tennis Competition where our girls were noticeable in their consistency and attitude and their perseverance and hard training paid off. For the second year running we came eighth out of 25 teams in the Tildesley Competition which was outstanding—the calibre of Tennis is very high and we are competitive in this environment. In all of these sports many of the girls competing are daughters of Old Girls.

So the scene was set for a Tennis and Golf Day of high standards of performance and high standards of behaviour and sportsmanship. There was a strong turnout of 44 Old Girls in total—24 golfers and 20 Tennis players—and it was pleasing to see some new faces and talent.

Once again, sport was the winner and it was a lovely way to catch up with people who have shared the disciplines and memories of Ascham.

Golf and Tennis Day

16 March 2015—the timing of the Ascham Old Girls’ Tennis and Golf Day at Royal Sydney Golf Club was striking this year, as it was in the middle of key interschool sporting events in which our students had excelled, representing Ascham with commitment and sportsmanship and achieving success.

After the sport we had a delicious lunch in the Clubhouse where the chatter was intense and loud. Jenny Ridhalgh (Harvey 1981) as our President welcomed everyone and thanked them for their participation and support. A key remit of the AOGU Committee is to facilitate Old Girl events and bring us together.

Mr Powell came to present the prizes and he engaged the audience with the news of how Ascham fared in the various sporting events. The pride in the room was palpable. A poignant moment was when Old Girls Tennis Trophy joint winner Claire Baistow (McCallum 1973) found the name of her mother Audray McCallum (Triggs 1947) as winner of the same trophy in 1990—it was such a special moment!

Thank you again to Skye Barry (Edwards 1994) for all of her efforts in making this day the success that it was. Thank you also to Lucy Regan (Cannington 1986) for her assistance in organising the Tennis Draw. And finally, a thank you must go to the members and staff of the Royal Sydney Golf Club for allowing us to use their wonderful facilities and for being such gracious hosts.

We hope to see even more of you at this event in 2016—it is so nice to reconnect.

Hattie Millett (Street 1980)

Andrew Powell and Jackie Boyer (1979) Ronnie Harding (Mackellar 1958), Sandra Anderson (1958), Tina Donnelley (Raine 1978) and Janie Holyman (Archibald 1978)

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Golf—Championship Course Golf—Centenary Course Tennis

Winner Jackie Boyer (1979) (38 c/b points)

Winner Sally Kimpton (Windeyer 1959) (21 points)

Winners’ Competition Group A Claire Baistow (McCallum 1973) and Hattie Millett (Street 1980)

Runner Up Jan Solomon (Buzacott 1959) (38 points)

Nearest the Pin Not awarded

Runner Up Juliet Lawson (Hassall 1987)

Nearest the Pin Carol Jones (Kelly 1959)

Longest Drive Ronnie Harding (Mackellar 1958)

Social Tennis Winner Milly Arundell (MacCallum 1989)

Longest Drive Berry Alexiou (Spry 1992)

Michelle Broinowski (Stead 1973), Edwina Sweeney (Dunlop 1985), Samantha Walder (1982) and Annika Zeman (1999)

Hattie Millett (Street 1980), Andrew Powell and Claire Baistow (McCallum 1973)

Andrew Powell and Milly Arundell (MacCallum 1989) Andrew Powell and Sally Kimpton (Windeyer 1959)

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We were thrilled to discuss The Ascham Duntrim Campaign with Mr Powell and some of the girls who had studied Mathematics and Science at university were most impressed that there were to be so many new laboratories. In our day, Biology was the only Science subject available.

One lady had found some photos of our classes 4A and 4B in 1949, we were the first group in Fiona! They were hilarious!

There was much laughter when one of our number asked the Head of School where she could smoke! His reply was ‘NOWHERE: you’ll have to hide behind a tree!’ At least there was no suggestion of a Saturday detention!

It was a very happy and successful day with tons of memories, and we wish to thank the School for its hospitality.

Ann Booth (Foster 1954)

Class of 1954—60 year reunion

On 14 November 2014, 18 very chatty, old, Old Girls met at the School for our 60th reunion.

Julia Richards, Alison Gall (Fenwicke)

Old Girls from the Class of 1954

Ann Wardlaw (Bucknell), Deirdre Siddall, Manya Singh (Luscombe), Perdita Sabine Marin (Hordern) and Rosanne Collins (Mould)

Pam Agostini (Cobcroft) and Pam Galloway (Walker)

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Attendees included Jill Sutanto (Cridland), Sarah Shepherd (Croudace), Ruth Cappelen-Smith (Dent), Dorothy Guterres (Evans), Helen McCathie (Francis), Ann Scales (Hordern), Carol Jones (Kelly), Mardi Joughin (Powell), Lynn Rainbow-Reid (Rainbow), Kerry Henderson (Roberts), Sue Heweston (Ross), Libby Albert (Selby), Helen-Anne Manion (Service), Diane Cox (Sharp), Estelle Lawrence (Simson), Susan Miller (Thompson), Carol Taylor (Tilbury), Greta Allen (van Rooijen), Sally Kimpton (Windeyer) and myself—Jenny Dewar (Hedge).

It was particularly good to have Mardi Joughin (Powell) from Canada, Estelle Lawrence (Simson) from Victoria and Lynn Rainbow-Reid (Rainbow) from Queensland. It was Mardi and Helen-Anne’s first reunion—due to both their distance and very busy lives.

For those who would have liked to have been with us and for various reasons were unable to do so, we thought of you all and you were much missed.

The School did an excellent job, co-ordinated by Skye Barry (Edwards 1994), Old Girl Liaison Officer. We began with champagne and smoked salmon on the Dining Room verandah. The lunch that followed was superb, provided by chef John Woodrow and his team: whole ham, prawns, with varied salads. Then petit fours—all with red or white wine and tea or coffee.

It was all over far too soon—we will meet again for the 60th in October 2019.

Jennifer Dewar (Hedge 1959)


Thank you to all who came to Ascham on Saturday 18 October for lunch. It was a special time—with non-stop chat—for the 20 of us there.

Carol Jones (Kelly), Sue Heweston (Ross), Lynn Rainbow-Reid (Rainbow), Helen-Anne Manion (Service)


Jenny Dewar (Hedge) and Dorothy Guterres (Evans)

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Judging by the volume of email feedback received since the reunion of the graduating class of 1965, it can be confidently said that our luncheon gathering on 7 March at Annie’s home was a ‘smash hit’.

It was marvellous to re-connect with a group of mature women who were so relaxed in each other’s company, almost as if we had been at school together the previous week—well maybe the previous year! A total of 43 Old Girls arrived from places near and far: local Sydney-siders, country and interstate folk and three of us from overseas.

Delicious food, perfect weather for sitting in the garden and plenty of interesting conversation made for a most enjoyable opportunity to catch up and reflect on ‘old times’. Annie, Gill, Tina, Julie and Marsha ensured that everything was beautifully prepared and the ‘girls’ who were there made it a very special shared occasion. Thank you one and all.

Joey de Seriere (1965)


Debbie Lloyd-Phillips (MacDonald), Gill O’Brien (Diamond), Rosemary Howard (Radcliff)

Belinda Bridle (Busby), Tina Fergusson (Morris)

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Friday 1 May 2015 was the evening chosen for a cocktail party in the Drawing Room, to celebrate the 40 year reunion of the Class of 1975.

We were thrilled to have such a huge response! The 55 Old Girls present managed to create enormous noise levels in Glenrock (fortunately no longer a boarding house.) Some of the noise makers even continued on to The Oak, because no one really wanted the conviviality to end! Surprisingly, although we had all been physically changed by the passage of time, once we entered into conversation, we could still be recognised as the same 17 and 18-year-old girls who walked out through the gates at the end of our schooling so LONG ago!

The weekend of frivolity continued with a gorgeous lunch on Saturday, organised by Jude Paradice (Carr), in a stunning apartment overlooking Bondi Beach. That evening many attended a dinner and party at the 18 Footers in Double Bay, organised by Bron Wannan (Combes). On the Sunday morning, for the more intrepid and less hungover, there was a



walk from Bondi to Bronte. Even though it poured with rain, it was a terrific weekend.

It was also very nice to have the opportunity to meet Andrew Powell, who kindly welcomed us back to Ascham. Thanks also to the catering staff at the School and the three delightful Year 11 boarders who generously gave up their time to accompany our unruly bunch on a tour.

Special thanks go to all those who utilised the internet to track classmates down, and to Susie Wyndham who graciously co-ordinated a booklet containing details of the last 40 years of those of us who sent her details. Thanks also to Kate Audas (Goddard), Deb Ditchfield (Keldoulis), Rosemary Nankivell (Duddy) and the formiddable Skye Barry (Edwards).

Melanie Currie (Buttenshaw)

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What a glorious bunch of women. Truly. Friendship transcends time and place so when we meet, it is as if the years peel back and we are still 18, laughing like there is no tomorrow.

Ruth Roberts cracked us up with her old green Ascham socks she wore for the occasion!

Although it was lovely to celebrate and acknowledge some of the proud achievements of many of you who are smashing glass ceilings and empowering women, it is also important to acknowledge us in our various roles as friends, mothers, colleagues, carers—often of ageing parents at this stage—as well as corporate queens of industry and innovation.

Making it to the halfway mark of a century is a major achievement. Some not so fortunate include Sally Gordon, Nicki Walton and Belinda Jackson. RIP.

Shemara Wikramanayake, Brigid Paton and Felicity Fenner make corporate and creative contributions at Macquarie Bank; Katrina Rathie (Yee) is at Mallesons. Other lawyers include Fi Seaton, Maxine Brenner and others; Sally Boileau (Higson) is Head of Customer Experience at Appliances Online; Penny Collins started Collins & Turner architects; Julia Horne is University of Sydney Historian and Associate Professor in Philosophy/Historical Inquiry; Bec Reynolds works at Newcastle University; Angela Sinclair (Armstrong) is working in Singapore; Melinda Cullman (Plant) is in New York; Susan Ettelson and Anna Warman are also overseas and Carina Gilster (Carpenter) lives in Austen, USA.

Megan Kilby (Donnelley) is on the land at ‘Kirkdale’ near Collector and very proactive at The Scots College; Amanda (Howe) Miller is finishing her Masters; Sarah Potter (Lance) founded Likeminds Consulting and serves on company boards, like others of you, such as Wigs (Victoria Weekes) Company Director, ex-Westpac, who mentors others; Tania Markovic is a leading endocrinologist; Kathy Zeleny and Mary Rose are doctors; Anita Gordon is a veterinarian; Karen is an interior designer; Kate Begg is enjoying her painting and Kirtan; Jane Dulce (Treweeke) facilitates drumming, healing and womens’ workshops; I am a marriage, naming, same sex commitment and funeral celebrant, celebrant trainer and yoga teacher; and Jenny Harasty (Blum) is forging ahead with ground-breaking brain research.

Jacqui Steele (Dunhill) has built up Egganics—organic egg farming; Cazz Macdonald (Nursey) has just become a grandmother to baby Otis and still works in a nursing-related field; and Jo de Vries is also a granny and a ranger with Pittwater Council; Jane Parsons (Clark) lives in the amazing mud brick mansion in the Blue Mountains off Bells Line of Road that she and her husband built, and works in signage; Di Shaw has worked as a Medical Officer for the Red Cross Blood Service for 25 years; Jane Rowlands is involved with Old Girls from the Class of 1979

hockey at a national level, as well as water conservation; Sarah Tanner described herself as a drug dealer (actually she is a pharmacist in Queensland!); Heather Hardy (Tamara Lunt on Facebook) is a musician in Hervey Bay, Queensland; Suzi Evans is in Paddington; Jackie Boyer works for the Cartier Group; Sandra Retallack (Gordon) is down on a farm near Millthorpe and breeding high class cattle, while studying geneology; Arianne met us afterwards at the Oak with Jacqui Dunhill and they are looking great and ‘as with us all’, trying to flow with all the changes this stage of life can bring as kids grow up, leave school and home, parents age and get sick. Bron Steele is still with the Police; Debbie Redelman (Sheinberg) is Coordinator Northern Sydney Area Health Service and in property management amongst other things (and mentions please all join the Ascham Class of 1979 Facebook page she started to make communication easier); Debby Collin (Berk) works with Herbalife; Fiona Bell is travelling the world between living in the Inner West; Prue Mitchell retired from legal work and lives in northern NSW; Bridget Badgery is a painter and artist and still living on the land; and Liz Adcock (McCredie) sends her best as does Amelia Schiwy (Gunning). Ann Walker (Kiss) I married at Port Douglas in July—she sends her love to all and after her cancer last year is happy, loved up and well; Kristin Robson is working as a migration agent and processing refugees on Manus Island; and Clare Cory is still playing her bouble bass!

Sorry to the rest of you—remembered fondly—Kate Benson, Anita Gordon, Carol May, Suzy Cole, Jenny Deger, Tanya Robertson-Cunninghame, Elizabeth Childs, Karen and Lorna, Julia Corne, Anna Warman: go to ‘Ascham Class of 1979’ on Facebook. All power and much love to you great women!

Melissa Halliday (1979)

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After months of tracking everyone down, we did it!

On a bright sunny day on 25 October 2014 the Class of 1989 headed to the Northern Beaches of Sydney and the beautiful home of Old Girl Vanessa Dixson (Goldberg).

We made the decision to have the lunch catered and we all had a fantastic time catching up. Everyone was in joyous spirits and we certainly didn’t feel that old until the bartender serving us drinks told us he was born in 1989—the year we graduated—hilarious.

Many were able to attend, but those who weren’t were missed. We had a fabulous day, with 45 of us attending and there was much gossip and giggling, shouting and laughter, with the afternoon ending with some of us dancing to 80s music around the pool.

A special thank you to Vanessa, Emily and Tiff for helping follow up and also to Lou for the cocktails.

Sue Martin (Bourke 1989)

Abigail McLaughlin (Osborne) Alex Gauvin (Bowie Wilson) and Milly Arundell (MacCallum)

Sarah Lefebvre (Dickson) Kim Curtis and Kiera Grant

Katie Stitt (Joyce) and Lucy Kerr (Kennedy) Georgie Howard (Raine) and Anna Brockhoff (Walder)

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I started tracking down girls about two years prior to our 20 year reunion. Girls had moved abroad, names had changed and despite the introduction of social media I had lost touch with many girls in the last decade!


This is not surprising, given that it is 20 years since we left the School gates of Ascham.

A year prior to our reunion we formed our Reunion Committee with much planning to be done, still more girls to track down and now the challenge to convince those girls to come along. We met regularly to ‘plan’ our reunion officially, but I feel that it became almost an entertaining excuse to catch up with a wonderful group of girls who were all keen to make the most of wonderful memories and wonderful friendships, and recapture the essence of the Class of 1994.

Back in October 2014, at the Woollahra Hotel, close to 60 girls reunited. The buzz in the room, the energy, and the laughter was truly wonderful. ‘Girls’ (I still say girls because trust me—these girls had not aged) had flown in from London, Hong Kong, Los Angeles, interstate and regional NSW and we thank them all for making such an effort along with Mrs Danziger, Mr Powell (whose first years at Ascham were teaching my Physics class), Mrs Boyce, Mrs Lumsdaine and Mr Sheehy. It was special to witness everyone buzzing around the room, laughing with everyone, trying on old

uniforms that (mostly!) fitted teachers and girls alike, as we quickly caught up on 20 years of school memories, travels, careers, marriages, children and friendships lost and now found!

To quote a good friend Rachel Wald (Slack-Smith):

No one has changed, it really struck me that people had grown into stronger versions of themsleves. So the outrageous girls are now even more outrageous women, the serene girls are the epitome of calm, the glam girls have take glam to new heights and the smart girls are super clever women ...

And much of this is because of Ascham and our friendships and our teachers.

I would like to thank Skye Barry (Edwards), Amanda Cook (Leahy), Sophie King, Emma Farey and Louise Dawson (Baker) in planning an unforgettable reunion and I look forward to our next ten years—our next chapter.

Jackie Baron (Slezak 1994)

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In March 2015 the Class of 2010 celebrated their five year reunion.

It was wonderful to catch up with everyone again, with people making the effort to come from various places around Australia. I think the general verdict, despite everyone being five years older, was that we are all pretty much the same, and that it felt like no time at all had passed!

We met in the Glenrock Drawing Room and were treated to champagne and John’s famous sandwiches, among other things. It was also quite special to see some of our past teachers again—thank you to those who came. To resort to a cliché, I think it’s fair to say the night was a success and we look forward to the next reunion.

Amy Hamilton (2010)

Class of 2010—five year reunion

Mandarin teacher Vivian Bi, Loretta Choi Samantha Low, Sophia Hangyu, Charlotte Grieve, Amy Hamilton

Bella Buchert-Palmisano, Bela Rofe, Emily Parsons, Andrew Powell Louise Lau, Isabella McDougall, Olivia Mallett

Anna Wheeler, Claire Frawley, Harriet Kensell

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Engagements Marriages Births Deaths

Engagements

Sarah Buchanan (1995) to Piers Dudin on 2 February 2015

Lisa Messenger (1989) to Jack Delosa on 15 November 2014

Millie Plumptre (2002) to Simon Fisher in October 2014

Sophie Slack-Smith (2005) to Daniel Jewell in September 2014

Marriages

At Mands Leahy’s surprise wedding, back row: Anna Prenc (Murray), Amanda Fletcher (Simpson), Helen Harris (Hourigan), Odetta de La Vega, Juliet McKenna (Carroll), Mands Cook (Leahy), Hannah Crawford (Street), Annabelle Monie (Kirkby) Front Row: Boo Harvey, Rachel Wald (Slack-Smith), Michelle Eisenhower (Moses) and Edwina Tyrrell (Stratton) Absent: Ingrid Rihani (Wallman) who somehow escaped the photo!

Lisa Messenger (1989) and Jack Delosa

Greta Gertler (1988) to Adam Gold on 13 January 2013

Lucy Kemp (1997) to Baydr Strik on 3 May 2014. One of Lucy’s bridesmaids was Ascham Old Girl Lucie McGeoch (1997)

Stephanie King (2007) to Marian Schole on 14 November 2014

Amanda Leahy (1994) to Daniel Cook on 10 January 2015 (Mands’ Engagement Party turned into a surprise wedding)

Samantha Noble (2005) to Christian Ward on 29 November 2014—Samantha is the daughter of Amanda Noble (Sillett 1976)

Rachel Pinczewski (2004) to Brent Jefferis on 30 November 2014—three of Rachel’s four bridesmaids were Ascham Old Girls—Alison Ilkin (Fraser 2004), Daisy Barclay-Economos (2004) and Sarah Pinczewski (2009)

Bridie Ryan (2002) to Harry Karadimas on 20 September 2014—one of the bridesmaids was an Ascham Old Girl, her cousin Daniela Elser (1998)

Annabel Cullenward (2001) to Ben Orford on 8 October 2011

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Bridie Ryan (2002) and Daniela Elser (1998)

Lucie McGeogh (1997), Nikki Valmorbida, Peter Kemp, Lucy Kemp (1997), Archer Kemp, Baydr Strik and Robyn Kemp

Samantha Noble (2005) and Christian Ward

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Births

Holly Beumer (Morton 1996)—son, Maximilian Beumer on 9 July 2014, a brother for Charlotte

Sarah Buchanan (1995)—daughter, Evie Alice Dudin on 25 February 2015

Claire Bunting (Norman 2000)—daughter, Coco Bligh Parker Bunting on 10 May 2014

Olivia Broomhead (Robertson 1996)—son, Sam Louis on 18 September 2014, a brother for Lily and Sylvie

Zoe Dent (Louden 1998)—daughter, Marlowe Daisy on 30 September 2014, a sister for Hunter

Camilla Fretwell (Thompson 1999)—son, Leo Fretwell on 31 December 2014

Michaela Green (Vida 1999)—daughter, Frances India (Frankie) on 24 October 2014

India Hardy (1998)—son, Hamish James Henry on 5 December 2014, a brother for Madeleine and Oliver

Ingrid Jacobs (Albert 2000)—daughter, Ella on 24 September 2014

Lucy Kemp (1997)—son, Noah Sead Strik on 23 April 2015

Jody Livingstone-Foggo (Hilmer 1996)—son, Eric on 20 June 2014, a brother for Edmund and Zara

Marina Olsen (Lloyd Jones 1995)—son, Hugo Frederik Olsen on 3 April 2015, a brother for Louis and Astrid

Annabel Orford (Cullenward 2001)—daughter, Lily Ann on 11 April 2014

Clare Vickery (Lloyd Jones 2001) and James Vickery

Emily Reid (Mobbs 1999)—daughter, Scarlett Grace on 23 May 2014, a sister for Harrison and Hugo

Clementine Rutledge (Whyte 2000)—daughter, Florence Valentine on 31 May 2014

Sophie Vandeburgt (Warner 2005)—daughter, Gabriella Lou on 9 October 2014

Clare Vickery (Lloyd Jones 2001)—son, James David on 7 November 2014, the first great grand child for Rosemary Simpson (Turnbull 1947)

Tessa Whiteman (Melick 2000)—son, Huxley on 23 June 2014, a brother for Rose

India Hardy (1998) with Madeleine, Craig, Oliver and Hamish

Camilla Fretwell (Thompson 1999) with her son Leo and husband Kristofer

Noah Sead Strik

30


Deaths

Christina Bell Duke (Jones 1932) on 24 November 2014, mother of Christina Duke (1967) (see obituary also)

Dean Constantine, husband of Thanae Constantine (Limbers 1960) on 9 May 2015

Heidi Cox (1982) on 23 January 2015, daughter of Julie Wyer (Hammond 1957), sister of Lucinda Cox (1980) and Danielle Cox (1983)

Elizabeth Dawson OAM (Lewis 1952) on 17 November 2014

Katrina Dawson (1994) on 16 December 2014, mother of Chloe in Year 3 and Sasha in Prep (see obituary also)

Eileen Gemmell-Smith OAM (Purves 1939) on 17 May 2015, aunt of Philippa Gemmell-Smith (1971)

George Gill on 4 April 2015, father of Angie Berry (Gill 1984)

John Hemmes on 2 March 2015, father of Bettina Hemmes (1981)

Shirley Hobart Drysdale (Cox 1948) on 25 December 2014, sister of Barbara Mckenzie (Cox 1946), mother of Catherine 1978, Pamela 1980) and Belinda Drysdale (1982)

John Hudson on 26 August 2014, father of Anne Andersen (Hudson 1978) and Joan Elsley (Hudson) and husband of Jennifer Hudson (Coghlan 1950) (deceased) (mother to Anne and Joan) and then husband of Jennifer Hudson (Davidson 1950) (deceased)

John Serafim, father of Lea Stracey (Serafim 1973), grandfather of Madeleine Campbell (Stracey 2000) on 22 April 2015

Gil Seymour on Thursday 30 April 2015, husband of Katie Seymour (1977) and father of Hannah Seymour (2012)

Jill Stevenson (Foster 1957) on 9 April 2015

Suellen Stratton (Wharton 1957) on 3 December 2014, mother of Amber Tait (1992) and Edwina Tyrrell (1992) (see obituary also)

Jennifer Thorp (Street 1945) on 7 November 2014, mother of Susannah Lang (1976), Diana Brown (1980) and Penelope van Vugt (1980) and grandmother of Jennifer Thorp (1975) (see obituary also)

Peter Sayers on 4 October 2014, husband of Jill Sayers (Stephens 1942) (deceased), father of Janet Chisholm (1972) and Katherine Christian (1970), grandfather of Alexandra Bell (2004) and Caroline Christian (2012)

Diana Walder (Dawson) OAM on 3 November 2014, mother of Samantha Walder (1982)

Jennifer Walton on 11 March 2015, mother of Danielle Ecuyer (1981) and great aunt of Alexandra Walton in Year 8

Moira Wurth on 24 April 2015, mother of Barbara Buttery (Wurth 1976), Sandy Mangan (Wurth 1980) and Jacqueline Wurth (1983)

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Obituaries

Katrina Watson Dawson (1994)

9 September 1976 to 16 December 2015

During her 14 years at Ascham, from Prep to Year 12, Katrina (or ‘Tree’ as she was affectionately known) was deeply involved in School life. From playing Mary in the Prep nativity play to fitting three different sports into one day, screaming harder and

louder than anyone else during Swimming Carnival Cheers, playing flute in the orchestra, being on the Committee in Fiona, starting up a School newsletter (Ascham Animo), acing the tests, performing in School plays, winning the French poetry reading competition and the Latin reading competition, becoming the Captain of Debating and participating in mock trial competitions, to serving as a member of the Senior School Committee. She was more than decent with a tennis racquet, was in the 1st Basketball Team and later she became a qualified ski instructor. Even when playing another sport (like Hockey) where she wasn’t in the top team, she would run head down and give everything she had.

The breadth of her co-curricular pursuits didn’t harm her results. ‘How did you go?’ one of us asked Tree just after she had collected her HSC results outside Randwick Post Office. ‘Oh, all right,’ Tree replied humbly, ‘give me a call when you’ve got yours …’ Of course she had known for several weeks that she’d scored 100. Later that morning, there was Tree, with a big smile posing on the front page of The Sydney Morning Herald with the other students who had topped the State!

Beyond Ascham, Katrina continued to excel academically, pursuing Arts/Law at the University of Sydney (First Class Honours) and becoming Senior Student at Women’s College. From there she was selected for a graduate position at one of Sydney’s top law firms, Mallesons Stephen Jaques, where on the first day she met her match and fell in love with her future husband Paul. She topped the Bar Exams and built her own practice while she completed a Master’s degree in Human Rights and Social Justice at the University of NSW and had three children in quick succession. At the same time she was maintaining her friendships, fitting in outside interests, voluntary work, exercise and hosting great dinner parties with her exceptional cooking skills, warmth and humour.

Her achievements were outstanding, but for us they do not really capture who Tree was and why she shone so brightly. She possessed a fabulous mix of intelligence, humility, determination, loyalty, care, creativity and playfulness. While she was born with a supreme intelligence, she was all the more brilliant because she applied her intellect without intimidating others, instead always being down to earth and lots of fun.

Tree was always the one to call you, eager to hear how you had been and what the family was up to and she never forgot your birthday. Several of us remember that when they started in Year 6, Tree was the first girl to put out the hand of friendship and make them feel at home. It is telling that so many people from School, work and College considered her their best friend.

Katrina’s transition from solicitor to the Bar was a great success. The path she had trodden from young woman and mother to Eight Selborne Chambers was not common. She somehow managed the competing demands of runny noses, court timetables and a partner with banking clients—and through it remained very much in love with her family, a good dress-up party and a laugh. Her aptitude for the law was impressive. A keenly sharp mind, innately fair, an unfailing belief in the law and a quiet determination, she had the attributes that make us think she could have climbed the highest legal branches. It’s not just those who knew and loved her who have been lessened by her loss.

Katrina’s greatest joys in life were her husband Paul and her children Chloe, Oliver and Sasha. (Chloe and Sasha are now at Ascham). Katrina and Paul were always making jokes and laughing with each other (the art of teasing is a strong family trait!) Whenever we saw her she always had a story to tell about her children with recent photos to show proudly. She adored her children and it is beyond comprehension that she will miss their growing up.

Katrina Watson Dawson was a true Ascham girl. She achieved more in her 38 years of life than most would achieve in a lifetime. She applied the school motto, Vi et Animo—With Heart and Soul, to every aspect of her life and in every challenge she undertook. She was the best of us.

Kindly provided by Isabella Alexander, Skye Barry (Edwards), Rachel Dear (Shaw),

Kamilla Johns, Solene Gregory-Roberts (Arcus), Lena Spark (Thomas) and Caroline Sweeney (all 1994)

32


Christina Bell Duke (Jones 1932)

1 April 1914 to 24 November 2014

Mum died on 24 November 2014 aged 100 and eight months. At Ascham, she was a member of the Tildesley Shield Tennis team. Her greatest gift, however, was her horsemanship. She was a well known show rider in the area she came from, Back Merrigal, Gulargambone, and later was one of only two women invited by the Australian Rodeo Association to compete in Melbourne. Her best show hack, Mr Potts, had killed two men!

Mum was about 5 foot 2 inches and she is pictured on a large and rearing horse at age seven. The picture became well known as it was exhibited at the Wembley Exhibition in London and is also now featured in the book Outback Heroes. Mum used to get up on this horse, Charles, using her toes to climb up his legs.

Despite being fearless of horses, Mum was terrified of Miss Bailey and on the first day she arrived at Ascham Miss Bailey looked at her and told her ‘we will make something of you’! Her eldest sister, Grace, attended Ascham 20 years earlier.

Kindly provided by Christina Margaret Duke

Katrina was a light in so many lives. She shone in so many ways. And she made the most of every opportunity she had.

The Katrina Dawson Foundation has been established in her name to preserve and honour her memory, with the former Governor-General, The Honourable Dame Quentin Bryce AD CVO, its founding member.

Through the funding of high school prizes and university scholarships, as well as the provision of a Fellowship, the Foundation aims to advance the education, and create a network, of exceptional and inspiring young women who will go on to make significant contributions in their fields of expertise and their communities.

It is the family’s hope that out of her senseless death they will, through the opportunities the Foundation will provide, bring meaning to the lives of other amazing young women.

For more information please go to:

http://www.thekatrinadawsonfoundation.org

A Tree for Katrina

Following Katrina’s death, Ascham announced that it would be planting a tree in her memory. The School is currently finalising a location and species of tree that will be planted and Old Girls will be notified of the plans in the near future.

Katrina and friends from her 2 Unit English Class, including teacher Mr Douglas Wilson

33

Suellen Stratton (Wharton 1957)

27 August 1940 to 3 December 2014

Suellen sadly passed away at the end of 2014 aged 74.

Suellen started at Ascham as a day girl aged seven. She adored her school years, during which she forged many of her dearest and

oldest friendships. She keenly embraced and participated in school activities, joking many times that this was done with more enthusiasm than talent. She laughed that her sole sporting award was winning the three-legged race with Janie Hardacre (Woodhouse), the captain of the School Athletics team. Janie hoisted Suellen to her hip and said run!

Upon leaving Ascham, Suellen trained as a Tresillian Mothercraft Nurse. Once qualified she moved to Melbourne and then, aged 21, sailed on the ‘Oriana’ to Naples to begin a European escapade. She travelled extensively throughout Europe before establishing herself in London, where she worked initially as a Tresillian Nurse and then in advertising.

In 1970, Suellen married Dad Stratton and moved to ‘Ulah’ outside Orange, NSW the following year. She truly embraced country life and it was here she was at her happiest. She loved all aspects of living in the country, from the country smell, to the open spaces and the stars at night. She particularly loved spending time in the garden. Tragically David died in an accident in 1979 and Suellen went on to run the property and raise her four children (Sinclair, Amber, Edwina and Angus) on her own.

Her daughters, Amber and Edwina, both boarded at Ascham from 6th Class to 6th Form. Once again the School became a major and very happy part of ‘Mrs Stratt’s’ life.

In 1996 Suellen moved back to Sydney where she was reunited with many of her old School friends. Again her love of, and desire to, travel was fulfilled in recent years with trips to Europe, America, Dubai and England as well as her highlight of driving for two months through central Australia.

Suellen was a truly remarkable person. She was beautiful, vivacious, caring, kind, courageous, strong and completely selfless. She was adored by her four children and nine grandchildren: Sophie, Harriet, Will, Rupert, Freddy Daisy, Lachlan, Harry and Heidi.

Life will be less interesting and fun without her but the memories will live on. She touched the lives of so many people and will be greatly missed. We have all learnt so much from her.

Kindly provided by Amber Tait (Stratton 1992) and Edwina Tyrrell (Stratton 1994)

Jennifer Rendell Thorp (Street 1945)

2 September 1928 to 7 November 2014

Jennifer truly encapsulated the great purpose of Ascham since its foundation in 1886—to develop trained minds and compassionate hearts. Jennifer came to Ascham in 1937, and completed her Leaving Certificate in 1945.

During that time, both as a day student and later as boarder, her lively spirit, her energy, her willingness to be involved, her sporting ability and her appreciation of academic achievement contributed in a very significant way to the life of the School and she is very fondly remembered by her contemporaries. In 1950 and 1951 she briefly returned to Ascham to teach Geography.

Once married to Graham Thorp and mother of one son, Tony, and three daughters, Susannah, Diana and Penelope, Jenny returned to her Ascham involvement as a parent. She took a great interest in her girls’ life at the School and characteristically was a great contributor to the Parents’ Association and the AOGU. Many AOGU lunches were held at 45 Wentworth Road Vaucluse; Jenny’s kindness and generous welcome to her friends, her children’s friends, and to the causes she was involved with was outstanding and the source of many happy memories.

Her philanthropic interests were wide ranging with an emphasis on the Save the Children Fund and the Foundation of the Art Gallery of NSW. However for Ascham her truly outstanding contribution was to be the first Chair of Ascham Foundation, which was established in 1977. The Foundation needs a story of its own but without Jenny’s ardent advocacy of its aims, the way in which it enriched the School just would not have been possible.

Jenny had a strong sense of continuity and tradition; not surprising for the great great granddaughter of William Lawson, explorer, with Blaxland and Wentworth, of the Blue Mountains. So it is fitting that Street House is named after her father Dr Tom Street, who served with real distinction on the Ascham Council of Governors. This ensures that Jenny’s name and spirit lives on at Ascham, as indeed it should.

Kindly provided by Rowena Danziger

34


Miss Marie Daley: quis custodiet ipsos custodes?*

Marie Daley’s original grave marker

Miss Marie Daley was one of Ascham’s longest serving staff members. She gave the School 34 years of service (1957–1990), as a teacher of Ancient History and for many years as Director of Studies.

Marie’s History students have from her a lifelong love of the classical world; several have degrees up to doctoral level in Ancient History and Archaeology. As Director of Studies, Marie had the duty of making the timetable. It is the key source of the Dalton Plan’s expression: its combination of lessons and studies makes the Plan a daily reality. Marie knew that. She guarded the timetable with a fierce protectiveness. The staff may have believed that it was they who were the key guardians of the School and its students, but any informed observer knew well who guarded the guards.

Marie died in December 2012 in Canowindra. At the funeral, Canowindra’s Catholic church was full. Marie’s brother Bill spoke, as did Robert Marshall, her successor at Ascham as Director of Studies. Several of the Old Girls who knew Marie were present; there was an exchange of tales covering many years.

Early this year Old Girl Penny Watt (Powell 1982) visited the cemetery in Canowindra. There was no headstone on Marie’s grave. An exchange of emails took place throughout the Old Girls’ network: it would be the Old Girls who would organise and pay for the headstone. That work is now complete. How fitting that this has been given in memory of one who gave so much to her girls and to the School.

Benjamin Taaffe

The headstone provided by Ascham Old Girls

*Who will guard the guards?

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Descendants of Old Girls on the 2015 School Roll

If we have missed any Old Girl connections we apologise and ask you to let us know of any errors or omissions.

Student name Mother Grandmother Great grandmother

PrepCleo Carroll Barbara Carroll

Ingse Dive Lisa Lehrer

Beatrice Henderson Yianoula Morris

Isla Oxley Amber Bushell

Sasha Smith Katrina Dawson

KindergartenOlivia Aitken Ellie Field Celia Moses Jacqueline Whitford

Barbara ViversJemima Crawford Ali Higgs Patricia Glasgow

Poppy Gabelich Kamilla Johns

Elyssa Gan Shir-Jing Ho

Grace Miocevic Louisa Larkin

Sienna Sharma Shanel Sharma

Skye Wells Kenney Wan

Year 1Marina Barnes Fredricka Van Der Lubbe

Ivy Smith Daliah Fox

Angelina Walker Christina Adgemis

Year 2Marni Finkelstein Melinda Marish

Phoebe Hill Victoria Higgs Patricia Glasgow

Annabelle Isles Caroline Allsopp

Lyla Mehta Freny Kalapesi

Eve Murray Annabelle Stanton

Skye Murray Primula Gollan Madeline Simson Judith Playfair

Anabelle Richardson Jean Kater

Mia Rogers Sue Collins

Skye Stodart Virginia Hyne

Year 3Rose Alexiou Berry Spry Scarlett Boyson Kathleen Mesley Edna Curtis

Kathleen Clayton

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Student name Mother Grandmother Great grandmother Violette Brahimi Sanchia Curran

Chloe Brogan Justine Kirkjian

Lucinda Isles Caroline Allsopp

Hazel Jackman Nicola Allen Beverly Coles Hazel Litchfield

Alice Jordan Emily Stone Margaret Stone

Thomasina Kay Hoyle Brigitte Markovic

Mia Lamb Siobhan Waugh

Lucia Lefebvre Sarah Dickson Sancha Bovill

Amelia Mackay Skye Little

Sophie Simpson Caroline Fairfax

Chloe Smith Katrina Dawson

Year 4Arabella Cossalter Susan Connell

Jessica Gilmartin Shemara Wikramanayake

Zoe Hill Victoria Higgs Patricia Glasgow

Alexandra Jones Jane Throsby Moana Fielding-Jones Margaret Osborne

Coco Lavigne Mia Freedman

Sophia Miller Skye Holden

Year 5Isabella Alexiou Berry Spry

Margot Duncan Cynthia Piggin Saide Saddler

Mimi Dunlop Nicola Christmas

Erica Herron Emma Longworth

Milla Laguna Nicola Bowie Wilson

Josephine Lennox Charlotte Hayman

Lulu Maison Camilla Ritchie

Isabella Marchant-Williams Sophia Stephen

Tehya McEvoy Catherine Szeto

India McLean Tain Moxham

Amelia Parker Margaret Terry

Heidi Raine Dorothy Scott

Saskia Roberts Samantha Corlett

Ella Sinnis Ursula Daly

Chloe Sproats Melissa Hartley

Ava Stahl Claudia Curran

Lola White Catherine Agostini Sarah Fairfax Pamela Cobcroft

Feo Sparowe

Year 6Madeline Armitage Angela Stanton

Arkie Dowse Lucinda Ipkendanz

Pia Dunlop Nicola Christmas

37

Student name Mother Grandmother Great grandmother Sofia Everett Emilie Morgan

Charlotte Halley Adrienne Arnott W Robert Arnott* Agnes Alexander Simone Pirenne

Eliza Howard Georgina Raine Dorothy Scott

Ava Jaques Katherine Holmes Inga Melville

Mimi Kind Kim Hutchins Janette Lennox

Marlo McClintock Julia Booth Ann Foster

Star Rose Miller Skye Holden

Rebecca Molnar Dania Nathanson

Victoria Ridhalgh Jennifer Harvey

Alexandra Roberts Samantha Corlett

Eglantine Samway Jemima Littlemore

Claudia Steglick Victoria Lewis

Chloe Tallis Kiera Grant

India Taylor Brooke Charles Suzanne Stogdale

Year 7Sasha Allen Beverley Coles Hazel Litchfield

Miriam Arnold Karen Arnold

Olivia Beaumont Erica Shannon

Philippa Bell Philippa Scott Jacqueline Champneys

Miriam Wharton

Parisa Bell-Mir Lisa Bell

Honor Brahimi Sanchia Curran

Alexandra Brand Sarah Merrick

Zara Broinowski Michelle Stead***

Alexandra Cooke Nicole Wright

Xanthe Fenwicke Angela Brazier Bronwyn Lee

Neisha Heath Anita Patel

Cara Hersov Fiona Philip

Olivia Hersov Fiona Philip

Francesca Jones Jane Throsby Moana Fielding-Jones Margaret Osborne

Anna Jordan Emily Stone Margaret Stone

Indianna MacKenzie-Wood Sarah Hartley

Sophie Mason Sally Weickhardt

Ava McClure Georgie King

Manon McDermott Nicole Cobb Mary Terrey

Isabella McGrath Shan Stevens

Alexandra McLaughlin Abigail Osborne Barbara Ward

Gretel Power Eliane Beaumont

38


Student name Mother Grandmother Great grandmother Ellen Regan Lucy Cannington

Jasmine Steele-Park Kate Murray

Phoebe Turner Penelope Collins Amelia Mould Nancy Rose

Year 8Lulu Anderson Patricia MacPhillamy

Sophie Blades Nicola Downey

Teya Cobcroft Anna Buckley

Romy Cohen Lissy Abrahams

Saskia Collins Giselle Jollie

Lara Elphinstone Julia Weickhardt

Clara Freeman Katherine Molnar

Victoria Gillespie Anna Clark

Rachel Herron Emma Longworth

Annabel Howard Georgina Raine Dorothy Scott

Alexandra Kelley Nellie Menzies

Teya Kind Kim Hutchins Janette Lennox

Zara Lowe Jocelyn Parker

Florence Macintyre Jillian Gavin

Catriona Maple-Brown Susan Arnold Janet Bowman

Adelaide Maurency Elizabeth Stone Margaret Stone

Skye Milson Colin Milson*

Chloe Molnar Dania Nathanson

Sophie Nicholas Alexandra Crammond

Harriet Psaltis Sally Heath Virginia Lane Nancy Wake

Lucy Randall Ilona White Fio Sparowe

Gabriella Richmond Justine Beaumont

Julia Ridhalgh Jennifer Harvey

Arabella Riepler Vanessa Schwarz

Isabella Roach Lara Berryman

Francesca Roberts Samantha Corlett

Amera Sarkis Dalal El-Asrawi

Alexandra Walton Betty Weihen

Indigo Warner Phillipa Barnet Ross Barnet* Gladys Gordon

Year 9Georgia Allen Beverly Coles Hazel Litchfield

Harriet Allsop Anna Nisbet

Naomi Arnold Karen Arnold

Camilla Bell Philippa Scott Jacqueline Champneys

Miriam Wharton

39

Student name Mother Grandmother Great grandmother Constance Brahmimi Sanchia Curran

Catriona Caldwell Fiona Gardiner-Hill

Ashley Kind Kim Hutchins Janette Lennox

Chelsea Koltai Vanessa Lendvay

Rosemary Martin Vanessa Cox Brenda Lugsdin Nancy Hosking

Lucia McDermott Nicole Cobb Mary Terrey

Eleanor Michel Nicola Dowe Barbara Kirkby Victoria Newell Helen Barnes Jennifer Henchman

Hermione Pegler Annabelle Ashton

Rachel Ridhalgh Jennifer Harvey

Mia Samengo Bettina Bartos

Lily Steele-Park Kate Murray

Year 10Tessa Barry Nicola Francis

Amy Blades Nicola Downey

Alexis Campbell Alison Stoker

Mia Cohen Lissy Abrahams

Zoe Crow Lucinda Kloster

Stella Duncan Cynthia Piggin Saide Saddler

Ellen Everett Emilie Morgan

Claudia Finlayson Nina Cannington Beverly Francis

Elizabeth Gillespie Anna Clark

Annabel Holden Hazel Allen Hazel Litchfield

Aliette Kiss Adrienne Revai**

Juliet Leicester Skye Power Heather MacDonald

Juliette Inglis Allan Inglis*

Ruby Mann Catherine Stirling

Emma Maple-Brown Susan Arnold Janet Bowman

Maisie McFadyen Peta Jaquet

Tully Robinson Sarah Brazier Bronwyn Lee

Amelia Turner Penelope Collins Amelia Mould Nancy Rose

Gabriella Warner Philippa Barnet Ross Barnet* Gladys Gordon

Skye White Camilla Casey

Year 11Zara Caldwell Fiona Gardiner-Hill

Amy Carrigan Jennifer Chick

Amana Cobcroft Anna Buckley

40


Student name Mother Grandmother Great grandmother Charlotte Coogan Smith Fiona Coogan Mary Stephen

Isobel Guinness Holly Johnston

Anna Harrison Judith Austin-Jones Vera Burcham

Hannah Kelley Nellie Menzies

Jessica McGrath Shan Stevens

Matilda Michel Nicola Dowe Barbara Kirkby

Grace Moses Barbara Vivers

Amelia Nielssen Tania Markovic

Ali Oayda Lisa Abrahams Nikki Edel

Edwina Raine Dorothy Scott

Emma Sweeney Edwina Dunlop Jill Saxton Phyllis Haley

Holly Taylor Shan Stevens

Sacha Thane Elizabeth Drew

Portia Waller Fiona Lance

Year 12Thursday Anderson Lisby Gore

Holly Baker Philippa Murray Elizabeth Scott-Findlay Irene Robinson

Pia Boileau Sally Higson Jan Ryder

Susannah Cooke Shaughan Littlewood

Sarah Coupland Katrina Kater

Mallory Dobner Barbara Simmat

Alexandra Kingston Sophie Knight Judith Swanton

Emily Koltai Vanessa Lendvay

Sophie Leicester Skye Power Heather MacDonald

Mia MacMahon Jacqueline Field Jacqueline Whitford

Georgina Masters Georgina Johnston

Eliza Millett Harriet Street Helen Mary Lysaght

Olivia Moulder Jennifer Lance

Annabelle Parmegiani Susan MacCallum Peter MacCallum*

Georgina Psaltis Sally Heath Virginia Lane Nancy Wake

Alexandra Raine Dorothy Scott

Nikki Riesel Sandra Berman

Wilhelmina Shelton Anna Moore Cobb Mary Terrey

Isabella Stanhope Emma Slaytor

Annabel Sweeney Edwina Dunlop Jill Saxton Phyllis Haley

Nell Turner Naomi Enfield

* Indicates the descendant is an Old Boy ** Indicates the relation is a stepmother *** Indicates the relation is a step-grandmother

41

Career updates

Alex Birrell (1986) Chief executive of medical device company Paftec, Alex won the business enterprise category of the AFR/Westpac Women of Influence Awards in October 2014. Alex has quietly flourished in a male-dominated industry, tripling her company’s profits in two years. Dr Birrell also co-founded Heads Over Heels, a non-profit group which selects and develops women for leadership roles, providing strategic networks and connections to help women succeed in founding high growth businesses.

Hannah Brown (2002) Hannah is an in-house lawyer at the Nine Network. Her dual role encompasses legal matters on the one hand (including commercial contracts and licensing, copyright, competitions, privacy, and assisting with some litigation) and regulatory and policy matters on the other (dealing with complaints and investigations, lawmaking and policy work for Nine). Prior to working at the Nine Network, Hannah worked as an associate at law firm Baker & McKenzie in the media and intellectual property practice group. Hannah studied law at UTS and also has a commerce degree from the University of Sydney. Hannah has served on the AOGU Committee since 2012 and will shortly be taking up an opportunity for postgraduate study in Geneva.

Suzie Coghlan (1976) It’s not often that one Old Girl and her good friends have a racehorse in the same race as another Old Girl. On 17 December 2014, Nina Davidson’s (Robinson 1976) horse called Frill Seeker raced Suzie Coghlan’s (1976) racehorse Viascon. They celebrated with Champagne but sadly not in the winners’ room!

Julia Finn (1990) Julia won the seat of Granville for the Labor Party at the NSW State election on Saturday 28 March 2015. Julia has served on Parramatta City Council since 1999, was Deputy Mayor 2002–4 and in 2004, at the age of 31, was elected Lord Mayor.

Sarah Fritsch (Ashley 1994) Sarah graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture from UNSW in 2000. She established her own architecture firm, Sarah Ashley Architect. Sarah has been a sole practitioner for ten years and engages predominantly in residential bespoke architecture. Sarah currently manages her professional career within the context of looking after a busy young family. Running her own firm allows her the flexibility and control needed to balance the demands of both the business and her children. This flexibility was also pivotal in allowing Sarah to continue her practice in Australia while living abroad for two years in both the US and France.

Daniele Goldberg (2006) After studying at the University of Sydney and living at the Women’s College, Daniele graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce (Finance Management). In 2010 she was employed by Lloyds International as an Analyst, Corporate and Specialised Finance Division, managing operational aspects for corporate and commercial customers. In 2011 she was promoted to Senior Analyst, ALM Risk & Liquidity within Treasury, coupled with managing new product service initiatives and strong relationship management with key stakeholders, as well as providing in-depth risk services to businesses. Daniele has now relocated to the UK to pursue her career with Lloyds Bank Commercial.

Mary Lee (2004) Mary is a registered psychologist and has been working as a school counsellor across 25 schools in NSW since 2010. She was also employed as a counsellor at the Sydney campus of the University of Notre Dame. Mary studied psychology and education at the University of Sydney and has a keen interest in building a network for psychologists within the educational sector. She has been on the board for the Australian Psychologists and Counsellors in Schools NSW as the South-Western Sydney Representative and currently holds a position as Treasurer. She also supervised students studying Master of Teaching (School Counselling) at the University of Sydney.

Dr Sarah McIntosh (Hilmer 1988) Congratulations to Sarah who has recently been appointed Professor of Medicine at the University of Sydney.Nina Davidson (Robinson 1976) and Suzie Coghlan (1976).

Nina’s horse Frill Seeker pictured in the background.

42


Susan McKerihan (1967) Susan has written a book on clear business writing: Clear & Concise: Become a better business writer.

This is the result of 20 years’ experience working as a Plain English consultant at PwC (previously Coopers & Lybrand), advising the firm and its clients on

how to improve the clarity and presentation of their reports and other documents. She was frequently asked to ‘train my team how to do what you just did with that document’, so decided to put all her tips and guidelines into a book. Susan said she has always had a great love of language and grammar, and her earlier career included teaching English as a foreign language in both France and in Sydney, which also gave her insights into how and why people struggle with certain aspects of written English. Among other influences, she credits Joyce Scarlett, her Ascham English teacher, with instilling an appreciation that ‘less is more’ in good writing.

Susan has also recently established her own business, Plain English Consulting, which continues the work she was previously doing in-house for corporate clients.

Her book is published by Black Inc. If you’re interested in the topic of clear written communication, you can read more about the book on the publisher’s website: www.blackincbooks.com/

Ali (Alexandra) Nott (2009) Ali graduated in 2014 with her Master of Counselling from the University of Queensland, which adds to a Bachelor of Health Sciences (Psychology) obtained from University of Sydney in 2012. She has been volunteering at Ipswich Hospice in Queensland and is about to start work counselling teenagers with behavioural difficulties.

Isabelle Napier (2009) Isabelle is living in New Haven, Connecticut, USA, employed as a Yale Lazarus Fellow working in Yale’s Sustainable Food Program: http://sustainablefood.yale.edu/directory

Ana Napier (2008) Ana is living in Ann Arbour, Michigan, USA, working on a Music Master’s at University of Michigan focusing on Voice.

Annabel Orford (Cullenward 2001) Annabel graduated in 2004 with a Bachelor of Medical Radiation Sciences (diagnostic radiography) from the University of Sydney, finishing in 2004. In 2009 she obtained a Graduate Diploma in Ultrasound from the University of South Australia. In 2013 she completed a Master’s Degree in ultrasound, also from the University of South Australia.

Jess Malcolm (2013) Jessica Malcolm spent 12 weeks in 2014 participating in the Africa & Asia Venture (AV) volunteer program in rural Uganda in the community Busesa, not far from Jinja. She lived and worked as a local within the community, specifically with local children at Ibulanku School and Ibaako School. Her role included helping children with English through group and one-to-one activities including art, music, drama, games and sport.

She told the AOG Newsletter how challenging yet fulfilling the experience was:

At the beginning, school was quite frustrating as it was difficult for the children to understand our accents, coupled with the fact that the education system here is just so different. They are encouraged to repeat or memorise until they get the correct answer, and there is no room for freedom or creative thinking. Aside from being a ‘teacher’ as none of us are qualified, our aim at school is to bring some creativity to the education system, as well as some variety and fun. We have also started to redo the school hall, as it is very run down, so we have organised cementing and will start to paint it this week.

Congratulations to Prue Thomson (Bambach 1953) who was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) on 25 January 2015 for service to people with disabilities.

Congratulations to the late June Poland (Anderson 1952) for her Order of Australia Medal (OAM) in the General Division for service to the Community of Woollahra. June was the mother of Suzanne Poland (1981) and sister of Dr Sandra Anderson (1958) and step-sister of Robin Shand (Anderson 1954).

Jess Malcolm in Uganda

OAM

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Next AOG Magazine—do you have any news?

The AOGU office welcomes information including graduations, careers, reunions, engagements, marriages, births, deaths, items of interest and changes of address.

If you would like to let us know of your Ascham forebears and wider connections (eg aunts) please give as many details as possible including name, maiden name and year of leaving School.

Please use let us know if you would like to receive Ascham’s weekly eNews sent to parents, staff and members of the Ascham community. It is published during school terms and contains detailed news. It is only available via email.

Name: Maiden name:

Email address: Years at school:

Phone (include mobile):

Address: Postcode:

News:

Yes I would like to receive Ascham’s weekly eNews.

Please send to Editor, Ascham Old Girls’ Magazine, Ascham School, 188 New South Head Road, Edgecliff 2027 or email: [email protected]

NEXT ISSUE – SUMMER 2015

Submission deadline: Friday 11 September 2015

Yes I consent to sharing my details amongst Old Girls.

Old Girls from the Class of 1985 reunion—more to come in the Summer edition.

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Founder Miss Marie Wallis

Patron Mr Andrew Powell

Office Bearers for 2014/2015 President: Mrs Jennifer Ridhalgh (Harvey)

Vice Presidents: Miss Hannah Brown and Mrs Caroline Stephens (Atwill)

Honorary Treasurer: Miss Amanda Urquhart Honorary Secretary: Ms Catriona Booth

Committee Mrs Skye Barry (Edwards), Ms Julia Booth, Mrs Penny Buckland (Bray), Mrs Giselle Collins (Jollie), Mrs Caroline Laumberg (Crouch), Mrs Harriet Millett (Street), Mrs Cathy Lawrie Poulden (Lawrie), Mrs Amanda Pfeffer (Stern), Miss Edwina Templeton, Miss Diana Reid, Mrs Lea Stracey (Serafim)

Enquiries 8356 7065 or [email protected]

AOGU Committee

‘New’ Ascham Old Girls at the Year 12 Cocktail Party in December 2014: Zoe McCathie, Phoebe Dunn, Emma Crossing, Martha Millett and Alison Newsome all on trend in designs by Old Girl, Camilla Franks (1993)

Ascham Old Girls’ Union

188 New South Head Road, Edgecliff NSW 2027 Australia

P +61 2 8356 7065 F +61 2 8356 7230 E [email protected]

www.ascham.nsw.edu.au

Documents

Acham Old Girls' Magazine Winter 2015